Absolute Power Page #17

94.

278 CONTINUED:
278

--and it’s full of food: milk and fruit and cookies.

Kate stares, then quickly glances at Seth. He just

points to a bottle.

SETH:

Pelligrino would be great.

(off Kate, who can’t

help it, breaks out

laughing)

What’s funny, I say it wrong?

KATE:

Tired is all.

As she hands him a bottle.

279 INT. KATE’S APARTMENT -FRONT DOOR -NIGHT 279

as they move toward it. He opens it.

SETH:

I don’t think I’ve told you this,

but I live alone.

(and this time, as she

does smile, and he

does go)

Lock it behind me.

KATE:

(LOCKING it loudly)

How’s that?

SETH (O.S.)

Real good. Try and sleep.

His FOOTSTEPS get softer, DISAPPEAR.

KATE:

(still facing door,

her back to her

apartment)

I betrayed you, Luther. You

better know that now.

LUTHER (O.S.)

You’re not the first.

As Kate turns, Luther, standing there, is looking at her.

KATE:

Why’d you come?

(CONTINUED)

95.

279 CONTINUED:
279

LUTHER:

You have to know I’m not a

murderer.

KATE:

No, this afternoon. To the

restaurant. Why’d you come then?

You must have suspected something,

or you wouldn’t have been

prepared.

LUTHER:

(simply)

My daughter wanted to see me.

He points to the couch --as Kate sits. Luther, and

before she’s even seated, he’s into it.

LUTHER:

The robbery went fine ’til they

came in. They were drunk. I hid

in the vault. Sex got rough. He

was going to kill Christy, but she

turned the tables, was going to

kill him. Two guys came in, shot

her dead.

KATE:

The same two guys who tried for

you this afternoon?

LUTHER:

Probably only one of them. I

think Walter Sullivan might have

hired the other.

KATE:

Pretty powerful enemy; good going.

LUTHER:

Not as powerful as the President

of the United States.

Kate just looks at him.

Dead silence.

LUTHER:

Richmond was drunk. The two guys

are Secret Service. Chief of

Staff Russell planned the coverup.

Kate just looks at him.

(CONTINUED)

)B( ABSOLUTE POWER -Rev. 5/16/96 96.

CONTINUED:
(2)

Dead silence.

Luther. Studying her. Not a great reaction.

Kate. Little shake of the head.

LUTHER:

Every word true.

KATE:

You’re saying you’re innocent of

the murder? Why in the world

should I believe you?

*

CLOSEUP -LUTHER *

Long pause.

LUTHER:

Because I swear on Mattie’s grave.

KATE *

Rocked -Luther,

going to her.

LUTHER:

On your mother’s grave, Kate -you

know I’d kill myself before

I’d lie about that.

Kate. Looking at him.

about that.

Because he wouldn’t lie, not

Everything he’s told her, all true.

The air goes out of her.

Silence.

KATE:

(soft)

Jesus, Luther.

I know.

LUTHER:

KATE:

They’ll kill you.

(CONTINUED)

)B( ABSOLUTE POWER -Rev. 5/16/96 97.

CONTINUED:
(3)

I know.

LUTHER:

Can you run?

KATE:

Luther as he sits beside her on the couch.

LUTHER:

I was set to. At the airport.

All the money I’d ever need.

CLOSEUP -LUTHER *

LUTHER:

But I saw that bastard using

Sullivan on the T.V. --maybe I

couldn’t have saved that woman,

Kate. But I didn’t even try.

(beat)

I know what you think of me and I

know what we’ve been to each

other -(

beat)

--haven’t been to each other.

And it’s not the time to try and

explain my life -*

KATE *

watching his face now.

LUTHER:

--but I’ve never robbed anyone

couldn’t afford it and I’ve never

stiffed a waitress.

(beat)

And Alan Richmond has to pay.

KATE:

What can you do?

LUTHER:

Not much, maybe --but I only went

to jail when I had partners.

(beat)

People betray each other, Kate -nowadays,

when there’s a group,

someone wants to write a book -(

MORE)

(CONTINUED)

)B( ABSOLUTE POWER -Rev. 5/16/96 98.

279 CONTINUED:
(4) 279

LUTHER (CONT’D)

(beat)

--these people hate each other.

And if I can drive them just a

little bit nuts, who knows how

they’ll react under pressure?

(rises and looks at

her)

Glad for the talk, wish we’d had

more.

Luther crosses to the door, turns.

LUTHER:

This is probably it; you

understand that.

(as she does, he still

looks at her. Then --)

I was never going to tell you

this, but I watched you argue a

case last year --thank God you

got your brains from your mother.

Kate standing now, too --they’re across the room from

each other.

KATE:

It’s dangerous outside.

LUTHER:

It always is -(

beat)

--and I may not make you proud,

Kate -(

soft)

--but I’m not going down alone...

And on that...

280 EXT. RUSSELL APARTMENT BUILDING -DAY 280

An elegant high-rise in Washington. Crisp, cool

afternoon. A DOORMAN stands outside, enjoying the day.

A well-dressed man rounds the corner; he holds a small,

beautifully-wrapped package with a small envelope

attached. He moves to the Doorman.

(CONTINUED)

99.

280 CONTINUED:
280

WELL-DRESSED MAN

(it’s Luther)

For Miss Gloria Russell.

He hands it over.

DOORMAN:

(taking it)

Want me to sign anything?

LUTHER:

(shakes head)

I trust you.

And he turns, walks quickly away as we -

281 INT. RUSSELL’S APARTMENT -DAY 281

The envelope being opened. It’s early evening now. The

message inside is short and clear -

"Gloria,

Thanks for the rescue.

AR"

Russell smiles, and as she opens the package -

282 INT. WHITE HOUSE -EAST ROOM -NIGHT 282

A beautiful necklace. Antique mostly likely. And

tasteful --we hear the sound of an ORCHESTRA PLAYING

WALTZES.

PULL BACK to reveal Gloria Russell, looking just

splendid, the necklace around her throat, entering a

large and very impressive White House dinner-dance.

Clearly an important affair of state.

We’ve never seen Russell quite like this --relaxed,

secure in her femininity. She nods distantly to Burton

and Collin who are, as always, close the President. For

the first time now, we realize something: Gloria Russell

is hot for Alan Richmond.

Richmond, on the edge of the dance floor, chatting with

some elderly couples, several of them European, all of

them wealthy.

RICHMOND:

(as Russell approaches)

You’re a vision this evening, Miss

Russell.

(CONTINUED)

)B( ABSOLUTE POWER -Rev. 5/16/96 100.

282 CONTINUED:

RUSSELL:

Thank you, Mr. President.

(beat)

And thank you, Mr. President.

RICHMOND:

(doesn’t understand)

For?

(off her, radiant,

indicating the

necklace)

Come again?

This time she touches it --he bends close to her.

RUSSELL:

(whispering)

You sent it to me this afternoon.

Long pause --then...

CLOSEUP -RICHMOND *

So happy.

RICHMOND:

Well, of course.

(now, to the others)

Excuse me, all --I am overcome

with the desire to dance with my

Chief of Staff.

*

A hand to her --Russell, beaming, moves out onto the

dance floor with him.

Everyone at the gathering, watching them.

Richmond and Russell, very much aware that all eyes are

on them -

--what we don’t know is this: they are both wonderful

dancers. And they seem to be reveling in their moves -

--because throughout this, they never stop smiling.

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